Method of atomizing fuel oils



Dec. 16, 1924. 1,519,83G

o. c. GOERIZ METHOD OF ATOMIZING FUEL OILS Filed March 25, 1921 armyPatented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD OF ATOMIZIN G FUEL OILS.

Application filed March 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR G. GoERIz, a citizen of the German Republic,and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofAtomizin Fuel Oils, of which the followingis a speci cation.

This invention relates to an improved method of atomizing fuel oils, andhas for its primary object to rovide a simple, inexpensive and highly ecient method for securing complete atomization of relatively heavy fueloils without liability of premature decomposition or carburization andwhich will produce a smokeless flame of substantially constant andunvarying character.

It is the purpose of my present invention to provide a method ofatomizing fuel oils wherein there is no steam loss whatever and in whichthe oil is atomized only at the instant of its egress from the burnertip and not prior thereto. In attaining this result instead of usingsteam from the engine boiler, I supply to the fuel oil, water underpressure which is superheated above 212 F. and becomes thoroughly mixedwith the oil. The oil is also heated above 212 F. so as to facilitateits atomization. By the maintenanqe of relatively hi h pressure in theoil and water pipe lines, t e vaporization of the water is prevented andit remains in a superheated fluid condition intimately admixed with theoil. When the mixture of oil and superheated water issues from theburner, its sudden eduction to atmospheric pressure causes the instantconversion of the superheated water into steam. This steam being inintimate association with the oil, in expanding breaks up the oil andeffects the perfect atomization thereof. Such perfect atomizationresults in easy ignition and complete combustion of the fuel.

It is further the object and purpose of my invention to provide a methodof atomizing heavy fuel oils as above characterized which may readily beadapted at nominal cost for use in steamship boiler furnaces, industrialp furnace installations and for various other analogous purposes. Myimproved method is particularly advanta eous in those cases where thewater availa hle for the production of the atomized steam is notchemically pure.

With the above and other objects in view,-

the present invention consists in the un- Serial No. 455,551.

'detail and hereinafter particularly defined in the appended claim.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated several types of apparatus bymeans of which the present method may be successfully practiced:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one embodiment of apparatus foreffecting the atomization of fuel oils;

Figure 2 is a similar View showing another form of apparatus which maybe employed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through .one of the burnernozzles illustrating the manner in which the fuel oil is vaporized.

Referring in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Fig.1thereof, 5 designates an oil tank which may be of any required capacityand from which the oil is supplied by the pump 6 through the pipe line 7to the burners 8, of which any desired number may be provided inaccordance with the requirements of the particular case. In the pipeline 7 a heater 9 of any suitable form is interposed and serves to heatthe fuel oil in its passage to the burner nozzles so that itsatomization or vaporization will be facilitated. The pipe line 7 is alsoprovided with a thermometer-10 whereby the temperature of the oil may beascertained and controlled by the proper regulation of heater 9.

From a tank 11 water is delivered under pressure through the medium of apump 12 into the pipe line 13. This water is heated by a heaterindicated at 14., and the temperature of the water may be ascertainedfrom the thermometer 15. The branch pipe lines 16 extending from themain pipe line 13 are connected tothe branch pipes from the oil pipeline 7, in advance of the burner tips 8. Each of the burners is providedwith a valve 17 so that thesupply of oil can be regulated and controlledand the water pipe hnes 16 are also providedwith the valves *18 so thatthe supp y of heated water to the burner ipes can likewise be regulated.

The water which may be more or less pure, as for instance sea-water, isheated in its passage through the pipe 13 to a temperature above 212, F.or the boiling point. The water however being under pressure greaterthan atmospheric will not vaporize or be converted into steam. Thissuperheated water is supplied in proper regulated quantities to theburners and becomes intimately admixed with the heated fuel oil. Theburners 8 may be of any approved mechanical construction which willresult in an intimate mixture of the oil and water before it issues fromthe burner tip. It is also not essential that the water pressure shallbe constant, as it may vary between certain limits. However, the waterpressure is maintained preferably reater than the oil pressure, the latter belng controlled or throttled by the valve 17 or by a suitable formof needle valve which may constitute part of the burner. Automaticvalves of various types might also be provided for this purpose. Thevariation in the water pressure doesnot result in any perce tiblealteration in the character of the ame and this pressure can be easilycon-trolled by the proper op.- eration of the pump. Theoil pipe line andthe water pipe line are each provided with a pressure gauge, indicatedat 25 and 26 .respectively so that the requisite pressures in these ipelines may be maintained.

' As 5 own in Figure 3' of the drawings, immediately upon the dischargeof the mixture of oil and water from the burner tip, owing to thereduction to atmospheric pressure, the superheated water will beconverted into steam. This steam expanding breaks up and finely atomizesthe heated fuel oil and perfect atomization occurs instantaneously atthe burner tip. It will be understood that owing to the maintainedpressure upon the water and oil, there is no gasification of the oilwithin the body of the burner so that decomposition and carburizationcannot 0ccur therein. Due to the complete and perfect atomization of thefuelv oil, all combustible products will 'b'completely consumed,

therefore resulting in an entire absence of smoke which it. hasheretofore been extremely. diflicult to eliminate in those oil firingsystems which depend upon the atomization ofthe oil by mechanical means.Further, by means of my present invention, any igpe of burner may beemployed and a flat ame can be roduced in contradistinction to theconical ame of the burner having mechanical atomizing means.

In Figure 2 of the drawings I have shown. a slightly modified form ofapparatus'wherein the outlet pipe 20 from the water tank 19 extendsthrough the body of oil contained in the tank 21. This pipe is equippedwith a suitable control valve 22 and the end or nozzle thereof extendsinto the intake pipe 23 of the oil pump 24 which is connected to thetank-21. Thus in this construction it is seen that a single pump is usedfor lacing the oil and water under pressure. maining arts of the,apparatus are similar to those a ve describe It is quite immaterial atwhat point in the system the water be apparent that various other typesof apparatus might be utilized for carrying out my improved method thanthose above referred to. While the water used in carrying out the methodabove described is preferably as pure as possible, a certain degree ofsalinity, as in sea-water, or of alkalinity; as in water obtained fromwells in oil fields, is not objectionable, and will not prevent theadvantageous use of the present invention.

In Figure 3 of the drawings I have shown the burner tip having one ormore outlet orifices 8'. In the burner chamber as indicated at A, themixture of oil' and water is under a pressure greater than atmosphericand is in.

fluid condition, no gas forming in this chamber, although thetemperature is above 212 F. When, however, the mixture issues from theorifices 8 and the pressure is reduced to atmospheric, the superheatedwater is instantly vaporized and converted into steam as indicated at B.This steam ex- -However, if, the water is heated to a relatively highdegree, say 230 or 240 F., then the oil need not be heated above theboiling point.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, my improved method of atomizing fuel oils and theseveral described embodiments of ap aratus for performing the methodwill be c early understood. 7 In view of the simplicity of the requiredapparatus it is apparent that this method can be advantageously utilizedin connection with steam boiler furnaces of various types employed forindustrial or other purposes. It may likewise be used in 'connectlonwith furnaces other than boiler furnaces and in. numerous analogousinstallations where high temperatures are required with econ.- omy infuel consumption.

While I have herein referred to a satisfactory and practical embodimentof my invention, it will nevertheless be understood that the same issusceptible of many modifications and I accordingly reserve theprivile'ge of adopting such legitimate changes as ma be fairly embodiedwithin the spirit an and scope of the invention as claimed.

, I claim:

The method of atomizing fuel oils which consists in mixing to ether oiland water heated to .substantia y the boiling point of water within aclosed container under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere,discharging to the atmosphere the mixture of oil and heated water Whileunder a pressure higher than that of the atmosphere, and converting, asit is discharged into theatmosphere, the heated water into steam by thediflerence of pressures between it and that of the atmosphere, wherebyexplosive effects produced by the expansion of 10 the heated Water intosteam, atomlzes the oil in intimate association with the heated Water.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name here- 15 under.

0S0 G. GOERIZ.

